David Córdova is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Born in Stockton, California, to two teen parents, he is a third generation Mexican American immigrant. David is one generation removed from the fields, as both of his parents worked in the fields to help support each of their respective families. He is the first in his family to graduate from college.

As an adolescent, David grew up in San Ysidro, California, a socioeconomically disadvantaged community located along the US-Mexico border. During this time, he experienced many of his peers get caught up in gangs and gang violence, drop out of school, teen pregnancy, and incarceration. In addition, his community had high access to licit and illicit substances and high prevalence of substance use behaviors. Therefore, David is humbled and feels very fortunate to be in his position, as well as be able to use these life experiences to inform his research. David’s research focuses on the prevention of substance use and behavioral comorbidities (e.g., sexual risk behaviors) among youth. This is accomplished through two primary areas, namely (1) developing a fuller understanding of the etiological factors that shape youth substance use behaviors, and (2) the development and testing of preventive interventions to reduce substance use behaviors among youth.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2012, he completed a two year National Institutes of Health-funded postdoctoral position at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He earned his PhD in Human Ecology with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy from Michigan State University in 2010, and was a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Minority Fellow. In 2005, he obtained his MA from Alliant International University California School of Professional Psychology. He earned his BA in Psychology from San Diego State University in 2002, and AA in Psychology from Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, California. David lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife Lillian and their four daughters- Gianna (16 years of age), Chloe (12 years of age), Isabella (9 years of age), and Lilly (6 years of age). He enjoys jiu jitsu, working out, traveling, reading, meditation, family movie nights, watching his Los Angeles Lakers and Las Vegas Raiders, and grilling carne asada with family and friends.